The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-22
Stand by Your Party.

The Republican party is showing unu-
sual activity, and its orators are more ag-
gressive than in any campaign for some
wears. Their stock in trade is abuse and
yillifcation, but not a single argument Is
advanced why any Democrat should vote to
change the control of the state government.
What valid reason could be assigned
Why should any citizen, regardless of par
ty, desire change? The state tax in
Maryland is lower than it is in three-fourths
of the states in the Union. The sinking
funds are all intact, as required by the
constitution and laws, and the credit of the
state is second TO nome The public debt
has recently been considerably reduced, and
the balance has been refunded at lower
rate of interest OF the 49, cents levied,
more than half is for the maintenance of
the excellent and growing system OF public
education, and the balance goes to the pay
ment of interest on the several loans. Not
n cent of tie direct tdration is applied to
the support of the state government by
reason of economies, and the saving of in
terest. A considerable reduction in the state
levy can be made, and will be made next
year. During the twenty years the state
government has been in Democratic hands,
not n dollar has been lost through dis
honest official. Law and order prevail in
the state, and life and property are secure.
Registration and election are as honest and
fair as in other states, and the rights and
privileges of the minority are respected.
AT every election precinct Republicans have
one Judge, and if frauds or irregularities
are committed anywhere in the state, 1t
must be by the connivance of Republican
Judge of election.
In every large city there are always more
or less irregularities, or fraud, ifyou please
Persons bent upon fraud cannot be wholly
restrained. No law can be devised to make
an election in large community absolutely
pure, any more than murder or theft can
be prevented by human enactment. Neither
can every violator of the election law, such
as repeaters, be apprehended and punishedi
any more than can every individual who
commits theft and murder. Every good
citizen desires free ballot and Il fair count.
To this end the Democratic party has bent
its energies in Maryland in the past, and
has promised to throw greater safeguards
around the ballot box by legislative enact
ment the succeeding winter. The power
of the courts has frequently been invoked
to restrain frauds, and the present year
number of Judges and clerks OF election IN
Baltimore have been convicted and are now
serving terms of Imprisonment. The cleo
tion frauds of Baltimore have been greatly
exaggerated. No such wholesale corrup-
ton has been practiced as charged, and
were the worst allegations true, Baltimore
would still stand pre-eminent for purity as
compared to Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and
other cities under Republican control, aud
as compared with what Baltimore was un-
der Know-Nothing and Republican rule.
The frauds in Republican Philadelphia are
-
notorious, and have been for years, and the
elections in all of our large cities are char
acterized by frauds and irregularities to a
greater or less degree, according to the ex-
ieencies of the occasion to the party con-
trolling the machinery. Still, unfair cleo
tons elsewhere are no excuse or palhatlon
for unfair ones in Baltimore. The fact is
only noted to show that Baltimore is no
exceptions, but we assert that there is less
in our chief city than in other large com
munitics. 1t is true, also, that laws have
been devised to restrain the lawless; eonvic-
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and the Democratic party has promised to
try further and more effective means to
preserve the purity of elections.
During Know-Nothing supremacy, cleo
tions we're carried by rowdyism and force.
Men were stuck with avis and driven from
the polls. Under Republican rulc.-know-
Nothingism under another name-frauds
we're more open, and no attempt at con-
cealment was made. Registration was
openly refused to more than half the citl-
Gems. and even some who were registered
were denied the exercise Of the elective
franchise. Every judge and clerk of cleo
ton was Republican. The counting
was done in secret, and the returns made
up to suit the ends desired.
Admitting. that elections in Baltimore
are not pure, is that any reason why the
state should be turned over to the Repub
iican party? Has not the Democratic party
promised to correct all evils so far as 1t Is
possible, and cannot it be better trusted
than the Republican party, party tha'
practiced the most shameful frauds upon
elections when in power in this state, MOI
only 10 Baltimore. bnt everywhere within
our borders; party that stole the Presi
dency in 1876; that corrupted the people
and bought it in 1880, and tried to steal ]
again in 1884.
There is no cause for change in th'
control Of our state Government. Not on
valid argument has been advanced by on
opponents, OF can be- And if there ar
abuses the Democratic party is always will